I want to thank you for your gracious and overwhelming support and your decision to return me to the Washington State Legislature on your behalf. It’s been my honor and privilege to serve you in the past and I will do everything I can to validate the trust you have placed in me once again.

I want to thank my opponent, Mr. Patrick Reed of Sumner, for stepping forward to participate in this election. He has graciously called me and conceded the race. We had a good discussion and I wished him my best in his future endeavors.

On both a state and national basis, this election was one of the most contentious in a long time. It resulted in the largest turnover of seats at the federal level since 1972. Around the country on a state legislative level it was even more significant, where the change of power and turnover of seats was the greatest since 1928.

Now that the election is over, the citizens in our state have made it crystal clear that they want greater fiscal discipline. It’s time to govern. The strongest message coming out of the Nov. 2 election is that government, like everyone else, must do more with less, and live within its means. As I have been saying for the last year, and as voters have now strongly reaffirmed, we must accomplish this without raising taxes that would harm our economic recovery.

My top priority will be renewed fiscal discipline and the creation of jobs to help jump start our stalled economic recovery. This cannot be accomplished by a single political party. It has been clear for the last couple of years, everyone must work together to overcome the obstacles we face. I will redouble my efforts to bring an end to the petty partisan bickering that has so divided our state.

There is now a clear mandate from Washington voters that we must enter a new era of fiscal discipline. I strongly agree and I will take that message back to Olympia with me.

Thank you once again for your confidence and support. Please feel free to contact me at any time with your ideas or concerns so I may better represent you.

Christopher Hurst

State representative

31st Legislative District